THE CRICKET. TtA 171 



Observations by the Rev. Mr. White. 



and show a great propensity for liquids, being 

 found frequently drowned in pans of water, milk, 

 broth, or the like. Whatever is moist they are 

 fond of, and therefore often gnaw holes in wet 

 woollen stockings and aprons that are hung to 

 the fire. These crickets are not only very thirsty 

 but very voracious ; for they will eat the scum- 

 mings of pots, yeast, salt, and crumbs of bread ; 

 and an}- kitchen offal or sweepings. 



<e In the summer they have been observed to 

 fly, when it became dusk, out of the windows, 

 and over the neighbouring roofs. This feat of 

 activity accounts for the sudden manner in which 

 they often leave their haunts, as it does also for 

 the method by which they come to houses where 

 they were not known before.. It is remarkable 

 that many sorts of insects seem never to use their 

 wings but when they wish to shift their quarters 

 and settle new colonies. When in the air they 

 move in waves or curves, like wood-peckers, 

 opening and shutting their wings at every stroke, 

 and thus are always rising or sinking. When 

 they increase to a gneat degree, they become 

 pests, flying into the candles, and dashing into 

 people's faces"; but they may be blasted by gun- 

 powder discharged into their crevices and cran- 

 nies. In families, at such times they are like 

 Pharaoh's plague of frogs * in their bed-cham- 

 bers, and upon their beds, and in their ovens, 

 and in their kneading troughs/ 



" Cats catch hearth*crickets, and, playing with 



